Law falling behind cyber bullying trend - ABC News Since April

Law falling behind cyber bullying trend - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg also wants specific cyber-bullying laws, but in the meantime he says that children need to be taught good cyber citizenship.
The former chief justice of the Family Court, Alistair Nicholson, says the law has failed to deal with the growing problem of cyber bullying.
The call comes after a landmark prosecution of cyber-bullying offences in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
A 21-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to community service under Victoria's stalking laws for sending sent threatening text messages to a 17-year-old boy who days later committed suicide.
Professor of child and adolescent health at Edith Cowan University, Donna Cross, has been researching cyber bullying for three years.
She says the number of children who report being cyber bullied has increased from 15 to 25 per cent over that time.
"About 10 per cent of young people tell us that they are cyber bullied," Professor Cross said.
"But if we ask them have you ever had somebody send you a nasty picture or a nasty message over the internet or your mobile phone, up to 25 per cent of young people indicate that they have had this behaviour.
One of the key messages that will be delivered at the bullying summit is that educators need to better involve children and teenagers when developing policies to deal with the problem.
Professor Cross says she believes the solution to cyber bullying will come from schools, but she says legislation is also important.
"Our laws are miles behind the behaviours that young people are engaged in so if people are relying on regulations or a regulatory environment to stop this behaviour, I think that it will be very ineffective in the short term," she said.
Psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg also wants specific cyber-bullying laws, but in the meantime he says that children need to be taught good cyber citizenship.
Did you see much change in bullying policies and attitudes in your schools lately?
What did change since April?Has been effective? Your say.